Candidate Warns of Pedestrian Risks at Dangerous Taipei Intersection

A candidate for Taipei City Councilor has raised concerns about a high-risk intersection at Minzu West Road and Zhongshan North Road, drawing parallels to a fatal accident that occurred last year. Chen Yi-chieh, running for the first constituency in Shilin and Beitou districts, pointed out that the intersection shares significant structural similarities with the one where Dr. Chou Chia-cheng, head of surgery at Taoyuan General Hospital, was killed by a bus while crossing the street.

Chen highlighted three key risk factors at the Minzu West Road and Zhongshan North Road intersection. Firstly, while general vehicles are prohibited from making left turns, buses are permitted to do so. Secondly, buses lack a protected left-turn signal phase, forcing drivers to wait for gaps in oncoming traffic to complete their turns. Lastly, large vehicles making left turns must simultaneously monitor oncoming traffic and a large number of pedestrians crossing from the north, creating a situation described as "opportunistic left turns."

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The intersection of Minzu West Road and Zhongshan North Road, where buses do not have a protected left-turn phase, requires drivers to wait for gaps in oncoming traffic to complete their left turns.

This intersection is a critical traffic node for residents of Shilin and Beitou districts, serving as a major route for commuters to the city center. It is also frequented by tourists, families, and the elderly, being near attractions like the MRT Yuanshan Station, Expo Park, and the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. Numerous bus routes, including those serving the Neihu Science Park and hotel shuttles, utilize this left turn, with over ten buses per hour during peak times.

Chen further elaborated that Zhongshan North Road at this junction is a wide, eight-lane road, yet it lacks a central refuge island. Pedestrians must cross the entire intersection at once. Large vehicles turning left are also affected by blind spots caused by A-pillars and the vehicle's side, increasing the risk of accidents. She noted that after the previous fatal accident, the city's transportation department implemented measures at that intersection, such as adding a protected left-turn phase for buses and improving pedestrian crossings. Chen urged a comprehensive review of all intersections with similar risk structures to prevent future tragedies, advocating for the installation of protected left-turn phases, pedestrian refuge islands, and optimized turning paths. She also called for the accelerated adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) in buses to mitigate risks associated with blind spots and driver judgment errors.

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The intersection of Minzu West Road and Zhongshan North Road, where buses do not have a protected left-turn phase, requires drivers to wait for gaps in oncoming traffic to complete their left turns.